Urban Development
Surveying Four Years of "Borisopolis"
As London's next mayoral election draws near, Rowan Moore evaluates the good and the bad in planning, architecture, and design from Mayor Boris Johnson's first four years at the helm.
The Empty Playgrounds of the Stateless Super-Rich
Tanya Powley and Lucy Warwick-Ching examine the growing market in super-prime homes for the global "super-rich", and its negative impact on local communities.
Scandal Threatens Wal-Mart's Urban Push
A bribery scandal recently uncovered by The New York Times is undoing years of hard work the retailer has engaged in to "polish its reputation and give elected officials, community groups and shoppers a reason to say yes to their stores."
Creating Urban Life Out of Decay
Peter Aspden celebrates the symbolism communicated in the transformation of the detritus of industry into loci for cultural regeneration, as represented by the Tate Modern and its planned expansion.
Parking Minimums Beleaguer a Car-Choked Brazil
Stephen Smith takes a look at land use regulations in Brazil, where developers are still required to make room for cars that its growing cities can't support.
Should NIMBYs Decide a City's Future?
As much-needed residential development projects in Boston prepare to seek their necessary approvals, George Thrush explores how a plague of "refusenicks" threaten to cost the city its competitive edge.
Did Kansas City Place A Losing Bet on its Downtown?
Eliot Brown explores how lower than expected tax revenues from the Power & Light District redevelopment project are forcing Kansas City to cut core services.
Identifying the Key Steps to Building Baltimore's Economy
Baltimore has ridden out the recession better than most metropolitan areas. However, in advance of a study to be released this week, Jennifer S. Vey outlines the ways in which it can better align workers' skills with economic opportunities.
City Deficits "Driven" by Suburban Patterns
As San Diego is paralyzed by the cost to maintain its infrastructure, Howard Blackson revels in a eureka moment, provided by Chuck Marohn, in recognizing the city's explicitly suburban pattern of development is a well-documented financial blunder.
The Biggest NYC Infrastructure Project You Haven't Heard of...
NYC's long-declining waterfront industry is expected to experience a new boom time, as the expansion of the Panama Canal will allow double the cargo and much larger ships to call at New York's harbor by 2024.
Georgia Plans City of the Future for Black Sea Swamp
Ellen Barry reports on the Georgian government's plans for Lazika, "its grandiose city of the future", which will be based on the Chinese concept of the instant city.
20 Years Onward, How Have the Riots Changed LA?
In April 1992, L.A. erupted in a torrent of burning, looting, and rioting following the acquittal of three police officers charged in the beating of Rodney King. Josh Sides looks at how the city responded to those events and how it's changed since.
A Business-Friendly Approach to Urban Sustainability
Moira Quinn takes a look at Charlotte, North Carolina, where businesses and local government have teamed up to keep office buildings green as the central business district grows.
Are DC's Strict Height Limits and Arbitrary Planning Rules Hurting the City?
Two commentaries pick up on the recent push to loosen Washington D.C.'s notoriously conservative height limits, and argue that such controversial changes are overdue and, in fact, don't go far enough.
The Three Projects That Will (Finally) Define Manhattan's Far West Side
William Millard, Tom Stoelker, and Caitlin Blanchfield discuss three long-awaited, major developments that are finally taking shape on Manhattan's Far West Side: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the third section of the High Line, and Hudson Yards.
The Death and Life of Redevelopment in California
Kicking off their new long-form Forefront initiative, Josh Stephens writes for Next American City on the killing of the country’s largest redevelopment program, and its implications for economic and real estate development.
Nowhere Near Completion, Brooklyn's Mega-Development is Already Changing the Neighborhood
Joseph Berger looks at the impact the Atlantic Yards project is having on long-time businesses and residents in the surrounding neighborhoods, as die-hard opponents continue to resist the project.
NYU Scales Back Village Expansion from Monstrous to Huge
NYU has announced its intention to reduce the proposed square footage for their controversial Greenwich Village expansion plan by approximately twenty percent.
Scoring Your Walkability
For the third installment of his series on America's pedestrian problem, Tom Vanderbilt profiles Walk Score, the venerable walkability website and evaluation system.
Pagination
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Portland
City of Laramie